When the Mishkan was finally done

credit was given to everyone

But not every person was an artisan who built

Some people might have even felt guilt

This job was unique, holy, Divine

So why do I get credit if the work was not mine?

The answer is that the Jewish People are a whole

We connect, and comprise one collective soul

If Betzalel does a mitzvah that others can’t do

It still belongs to me and to you

because mitzvot connect us, they’re our spiritual glue

This is what the Ohr HaChayim explains:

If we love one another, in the end what remains

is that we each get rewards for what others do

Our religion belongs to the masses, not to an elite few.

And here comes a moment where we ought to shout, “Aha”

This is the deep meaning of Ve’ahavta le’reacha kamocha

If I don’t love you or you don’t love me

incomplete is what we will be

We each do mitzvot that others cannot

because we all have gifts the other hasn’t got

And when you and I love each other

We are one family, sisters and brothers

May we be blessed to be connected through love

and thus keep the whole Torah given by God above

Rabbi Neil Fleischmann, an ordained rabbi from RIETS, has taught Torah for over 30 years, primarily at The Frisch School, where he coached the award-winning poetry team. As an integral part of the Yeshiva Poetry Society, Fleischmann is a passionate advocate for the arts within the Torah world. He was named New York’s funniest rabbi and has performed standup comedy, as well as presenting as scholar in residence, across the city and country. His literary work includes the haiku collection “In The Field,” and he has contributed close to 20 poems to the “Stories of Our Lives” anthologies, parts 1 and 2. Currently, Fleischmann is working on a book of parsha poems that combines meaningful content with whimsical formatting. You can reach him at nfleischmann1@gmail.com.